Dotty regretted that Jennie Vance had gone to Boston, for it would have been pleasant to see Jennie envious.

What were gold rings compared to ducklings?
The blunt little beaks pecked out very fast.

As soon as they were all out, except the two eggs which were addled, the step-mother hen gathered her family together and went to house-keeping, gipsy fashion, in the back yard.

She clucked to the ducklings, and they followed her, their little feet going pat, pat, on the soft grass.

A nice time they had, no doubt, eating picked-up dinners, with now and then a banquet of corn-meal dough.